Fixture for assembling die and work support plates

ABSTRACT

A fixture assembly has lower and upper fixture shoes mounted on guide pins for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other with the lower and upper fixture shoes having first and second series of apertures in precise alignment with each other. A first access opening is provided in the lower fixture shoe and a second access opening is provided in the upper fixture shoe to facilitate locating and installing working tools on a support plate in proper alignment and working relationship relative to a cooperating die.

limited States Patent [19] Strohel [54] FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING DIE AND WORK SUPPORT PLATES [76] Inventor: Walter Strobel, 4433 North 68th Street, Milwaukee, Wis. 532l8 [22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1972 [211 Appl. No.: 223,328

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Set. No. 9,537, Feb. 9, 1970, Pat No 52 us. e1. ..29/200 .l 51 int. c1. ..B23p 19/00 58 Field of Search ..29/200 J, 200 P,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hildebrand ..29/200 P May 22,1973

3,518,743 7/1970 Muller ..29/20O J Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Donald C. McGaughey [57] ABSTRACT A fixture assembly has lower and upper fixture shoes mounted on guide pins for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other with the lower and upper fixture shoes having first and second series of apertures in precise alignment with each other. A first access opening is provided in the lower fixture shoe and a second access opening is provided in the upper fixture shoe to facilitate locating and installing working tools on a support plate in proper alignment and working relationship relative to a cooperating die.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDm'z 1975 3,733,671

SHEET 1 BF 2 FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING DIE AND WORK SUPPORT PLATES This is a division, of application Ser. No. 9,537 filed Feb. 9, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,902.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a fixture for assembling a die, a work support plate and a working tool in accurate alignment for installation in a die set.

2. Description of the prior art Those skilled in the art refer to a completed die assembly as a die but for purposes of clarity the completed die will be termed a die assembly. The phrase die set will be used to refer to only the upper and lower die shoes and the associated guide pins which inter-connect the shoes for reciprocal movement. The word die" will be used to refer to the piece of tool steel in which the punch opening or edge is formed. The term fixture will be used to refer to the upper and lower fixture shoes, one or both of which having an access opening, and the associated guide pins which interconnect the fixture shoes for reciprocal movement.

Die assemblies, comprising upper and lower die shoes mounting a punch plate and punch, and a die plate and die, respectively are well known in the prior art. To assure sharp well defined production pieces without breaking the dies or shortening the production life of the die it is absolutely necessary that the die be made to conform accurately in all detail to the outline of its associated punch. The fitting of dies to their associated punch element is customarily a long tedious and painstaking task performed by a highly trained and skilled tool and die maker. The expense of such work is very high and in some cases may be so high as to prohibit production of pieces by this method.

To reduce costs and still assure accurate conformity of the punch in the die the prior art suggests that the punch be pressed into a sheet of compressible material placed on top of the die to leave an impression. The tool and die maker then follows the outline of this impression, and drills, reams, routes, saws and files out the desired shape. An example of this method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.2,322,949.

The prior art also suggests that the punch be first manufactured to the desired shape. The punch is then placed between a punch plate and a die both of which are suseptible to recessing by pressure of the punch. Pressure is then applied to the assembly and the tool and die maker then handworks out the desired shape in the die and the punch plate. An example of this method is U.S. Pat. No. 2,8l6,46l.

In both of the above methods a great deal of tedious and expensive hand work is necessary by a highly skilled tool and die maker. In the past the tool and die maker worked with upper and lower die shoes which did not have any access apertures which would allow working access to the back sides of the die support plate and the working tool or punch support plate. Thus when critical alignment and assembly of die and punches is made it has been the practice to drill through both the upper die shoe and the punch support plate to install the necessary dowels and machine screws. If it is desired to reuse the die shoes it is usually found that these holes are in a position on the shoe such that they will interfere with the mounting of new punches and thus prevent reuse of the die set. Normally the old die set is discarded and a new die set used for each new set up. In addition old die assemblies are not used because there is no practical way to quickly and accurately refit new die plates and punch plates into the die assembly. It is an object of my invention to provide a fixture wherein the die and punches can be accurately aligned and mounted without drilling dowel and machine screw holes in the upper or lower die shoes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a die fixture for use with my method of constructing a die assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention avoids the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a fixture assembly in which the lower fixture shoe has a first series of pre-determined apertures and the upper fixture shoe is provided with a second series of pre-determined apertures in precise alignment with the first series of apertures. Preferably each fixture shoe has a working access opening however, if desired it is possible to only utilize an access opening in one of the fixture shoes. The die plate (which may be either the die per se or the die mounted on a support plate), the working tool plate and the stripper, are each provided with locating apertures positioned to align with the first and second series of predetermined apertures in the lower and upper fixture shoes. In practice the first and second series of predetermined apertures of the fixture shoes will be in exactly the same location as the first and second series of apertures in lower and upper die shoes. Thus the die plate, the working tool support plate, and the working tools such as punches may be aligned and assembled on the fixture assembly and when completed, transfered to the die assembly. By performing the drilling of dowel holes and machine holes using the fixture no holes are drilled in the die shoes. The access opening or openings in the fixture shoes will facilitate alignment and assembly of the dowel and machine screws.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a section view of a die assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the die assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the upper die shoe orientated from its position as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a die fixture according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the upper shoe of the die fixture shown in FIG. 4 with a die support plate positioned thereon ready for boring and illustrating the working tool plate and the stripper which are to be sequentially positioned on the fixture for boring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the die set 10 comprises lower and upper shoes 11 and 12. Guide means preferably in the form of tour guide pins 13 and bushings 14 inter-connect the upper and lower shoes.'lf desired as few as two guide pins can be used. Guide pins 13 are rigidly mounted on the lower shoe II. Guide pin receiving bushings 14 are rigidly mounted in apertures 16 which are bored in upper shoe 12 to precisely align with the guide'pins 13. The upper shoe 12 is mountable upon the guide pins 13 which pass through bushings l4 for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower shoe 11. A first series of predetermined apertures 21 are bored in the lower shoe 11 and a second series of predetermined apertures 22 are bored in the upper shoe 12 in precise alignment with the first series of apertures for purposes to be explained hereinafter. Each series of apertures 21, 22 preferably comprise two apertures but more apertures can be used if desired.

The lower shoe 11 is adapted to be mounted, by conventional means, not shown, in the bed ofa punch press 17. The upper die shoe 12 is similarly adapted to be connected by conventional means, not shown, to the reciprocal power ram 18 of the punch press 17. The downward stroke of the press ram 18 will move the upper die shoe 12 toward the lower shoe 11 and the upward stroke will move the die shoe 12 away from the lower shoe 11.

The actual stamping of a work piece 24 is performed by a suitable die 23 and punches 26, 27, 28 mounted on the lower and upper shoes 11 and 12 respectively. The position of work piece 24 for stamping is determined by pins 25. The addition of components 23, 26, 27, 28 and a stripper 39 complete the die set into the die assembly". For purposes of illustration two perforating punches 26, 27 and one trimming punch 28 are shown. The die 23 is usually mounted upon the shoe 11 through the provision of a die plate 29, although if the die is of a size and thickness to afford sufficient strength, the die plate 29 can be omitted. In actual operation the plate 29 supports the die 23 and thus will be termed a die support plate. The die support plate 29, or the die 23 if no die support plate 29 is used, is provided with at least two locating apertures 30, positioned and located to align with both the first series of apertures 21 in the lower shoe l1 and the second series of apertures 22 in the upper shoe 12. If a die support plate 29 is used the die 23 is mounted on the plate 29 in conventional manner using machine screws 31 and dowel pins (not shown) in drilled and reamed openings. It is not necessary to precisely locate the blank die 23 on die support plate 29 as locating the position of the die contour 32 is part of my novel method as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The die support plate 29 may be detachably mounted directly on the lower die shoe 11 by means of locator pins 33 and machine screws (not shown). It is preferable that the die support plate 29 be mounted on at least a pair of risers 63. Each riser 63 comprises a bar, rectangular in cross section, provided with at least one locator aperture 64 of the same diameter as locator apertures 30. In addition each riser has a series of tapped apertures 66. The die support plate 29 is fastened to the risers 63 by machine screws 35 which pass through the die support plate 29 into tapped apertures 66. The shape of the risers 63 is not critical. Each riser need only have one locator aperture 64 to receive locator pin 33. The risers 63 can be affixed between the lower shoe 11 and the die support plate 29 in any conventional manner as for example by the use of machine screws. The use of risers 63 obviates the need for drilling slug holes in the lower shoe 11. Thus the lower shoe is not weakened and can be reused. If necessary additional intermediate risers can be placed between the two end risers 63 shown in FIG. 2 and secured by machine screws threaded into apertures 65. The use of intermediate risers will give additional support to the die support plate 29.

An additional component of the die assembly is a working tool plate 34 hereinafter called a punch plate. The punch plate 34 is provided with locating apertures 36 positioned to align with both the second series of apertures 22 and the first series of apertures 21. Perforating punches 26, 27 and trimming punch 28 are mounted on punch plate 34 in conventional manner. However, the locating of the mounting position for punches 26, 27, and 28 is part of my novel method which will be more fully explained hereinafter. The punch plate is detachably mounted on the upper shoe 12 by means of locator pins 37 and machine screws 38 which are threaded into apertures 40.

A further component of the die assembly is a stripping means in the form of bridge stripper assembly 39. Other forms of strippers can be used if desired. With the upward or return stroke of the press ram 18 the stripper 39 causes the work piece 24, after it has been punched, to be stripped from the punches 26, 27. The stripper assembly 39 comprises a stripper plate 41; a pair of stripper cross bars 42, 43 fastened to the outer ends of stripper plate 41 by machine screws 46; four stripper bolts 47 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2) are slidably received in openings 48; and stripper return compression springs 49 are mounted in surrounding relation to each of the stripper bolts 47. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 the stripper bolts 47 each have a threaded end 52 which is fastened into the lower shoe 11 in a manner which will now be explained. The stripper bolts 47 must be mounted in an exact right angle relationship to the plane defined by lower shoe 11 to prevent any binding of cross bars 42, 43 as they reciprocate on bolts 47. To achieve this right angle relationship the holes 53 are precision bored in the lower shoe 11. A portion 56 of the lower shoe 11 is milled away. An insert 57 having a drilled and tapped opening 58 is then placed in portion 56 and the end 52 of stripper bolt 47 is threaded into opening 58. The insert 57, held in place by stripper bolt 47, is then drilled and the lower shoe 11 tapped to receive mounting machine screws 59. The stripper plate 41 is provided with locating apertures 44 positioned to align with the first and second series of apertures 21, 22.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the die assembly 10 includes the lower and upper shoes, 11, 12, the die support plate 29, the punch plate 34 and the stripper assembly 39. These basic elements are adapted for mass production wherein the first and second series of apertures 21, 22 and the locator apertures 30, 36, 44 are bored in precise alignment. This die assembly can be furnished as a standard catalog assembly to the manufacturer of stampings who designs and installs punches 26, 27, 28 of such size and at such locations in the die set as are needed. The manufacture of stampings will follow my method of locating the punch in relation to the die in the complete die assembly as will be explained.

Refer now to FIG. 5 which illustrates the components of the die that will be sequentially positioned on a die shoe for precision machining. Either the lower or upper shoe 11, 12 but preferably the upper shoe 12, can be mounted in a precision metal, working machine such as a standard boring machine 68 wherein the work position of the spindle or worktable can be accurately read and recorded to permit the operator to subsequently re-position the spindle or work table to a previously selected work position. At least two locator pins 37 are placed in the series of apertures 22 in shoe l2. Preferably the shoe 12 will be mounted in the boring machine 68 upon spacing blocks 69, to provide a space into which locator pins 37 may be driven when it is desired to remove them.

The die support plate 29 with die 23 thereon is then placed upon the shoe 12 with locator pins 37 projecting into the locating apertures 30 in the die support plate. Die holes 32 are bored in the die 23 with the operator recording the precise positions of the boring machine 68 for each die hole. The die plate 29 is then removed and the stripper plate 41 is mounted with the locator pins 37 entering into the locating apertures 44 of the stripper plate. The boring machine is re-positioned to the precise position as previously recorded for machining the die holes 32 and the stripper holes 71 are bored with suitable tolerances. The stripper plate 41 is then removed and the punch plate 34 is placed upon the die shoe 12 with the locator pins 37 entering into the locating apertures 36. The boring machine is re-positioned to the previously recorded position and the punch mounting holes 72 are bored and counter-bored or countersunk.

It will be appreciated that a boring machine is only referred to for purposes of illustration. If desired a tape controlled milling machine could be used with coordinate locations on tape to machine the necessary holes 32, 71, 72 in the die assembly components.

While it is possible to use either the lower or upper shoe as a fixture for accurately machining holes 32, 71, 72 l have designed the special fixture 76 shown in FIG. 4 to facilitate assembly of the punch and die assembly. The fixture 76 comprises lower and upper fixture shoes 11', 12', which correspond in size to my standard die set shoes 11 and 12. The fixture differs in that the lower and upper shoes 11' and 12 are each provided with access openings 77 and 78. Locating apertures 21 and 22' respectively are provided in each shoe 11' and 12'. The locating apertures 21, 22 correspond exactly to apertures 21, 22 in lower and upper shoes 11, 12 and align exactly with the locating apertures 30, 44, 36 in the die support plate, stripper plate and punch plate respectively.

The primary purpose of access openings 77 and 78 is to facilitate the locating and installation of trimming punches such as punch 28 shown in FIG. 2. Trimming punches such as punch 28 must be mounted by means of dowels and machine screws to prevent any shifting of their position during operation. The die support plate 29 with die 23 thereon is assembled on the lower fixture 11'. It is understood that the trimming edge 81 of die 23 (FIG. 2) has been previously machined. Also at least two dowel holes 82 and a tapped mounting hole 83 shown in FIG. 1 have been provided in punch 28. The punch 28 is set in place along side of edge 81 and held in position by any suitable means such as a rubber band passed around the contour of the die'23. A-shim may be placed between punch 28 and edge 81 to provide the proper operating clearance. A spotting screw, which is well known in the art, is threaded into the tapped mounting hole 83 and the upper fixture 12', with punch plate 34 mounted thereon, is placed upon fixture 11'. The lower and upper fixtures are brought together so that the spotting screw makes a center punch mark on the surface 86 (FIG. 2) of punch plate 34. The upper fixture 12 is then removed and a machine screw receiving hole is drilledat the location of the center punch mark. The upper fixture 12' is then re-positioned upon the lower fixture 11. Because of the access opening 78 it is possible to now install a machine screw 87 (FIG. 1) directly into the punch 28. A machine screw or screws such as screw 87 will not ac curately maintain the position of punch 28. Thus after machine screw 28 is installed the upper fixture 12 is removed with the punch 28 affixed to the punch plate 34. As the punch 28 is hardened tool steel it is now possible, using dowel holes 82 in punch 28 as a guide, to drill and ream dowel pin holes into punch plate 34 which align exactly with dowel pin holes 82 in punch 28. Dowel pins 88 (FIG. 1) are then installed. It will be understood that without access opening 78 the fixture 12' would have to be removed to provide access to install screw 87. Such removal is impossible as removal will disturb the critical positioning of punch 28 on the punch support plate 34.

The prior art method would be to drill right through the upper shoe 12 to install both dowels 88 and machine screw 87. These holes are frequently in such a position as to interfere with the mounting of compo nents when subsequent re-use of the die set is desired. In addition the holes tend to weaken the upper shoe 12. The use of my special fixture permits the mounting of the trimming punch without the necessity of drilling any opening in the upper shoe 12.

When using a die set as herein described it is never necessary to discard the upper and lower die shoes 11 and 12 as the use of the risers 63 obviates the need for slug holes in the lower shoe ll. Slug holes 89 are provided only in the die support plate 29 (FIG. 1). Thus the only components that would be discarded are the die support plate 29, the stripper plate 41 and the punch plate 34. All of these plates can be manufactured by the die set manufacturer as standard off the shelf" blank plates with locating apertures 30, 44, 36 precisely located and bored to align with the first and second series of apertures 21, 22 in the standardized lower and upper shoes.

The above described fixture assembly and method of aligning the punch, stripper and die elements is low in cost relative to conventional dies while permitting the user to accurately duplicate the components and re-use the lower and upper die shoes of a die set.

While there have been shown and described particular embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fixture for use in machining and preliminary assembly of die support plates, strippers, and work support plate preparatory to subsequent final mounting into a complete die assembly comprising A. a lower fixture shoe B. a first access opening in said lower fixture shoe C. an upper fixture shoe D. a second access opening in said upper fixture shoe E. guide means mounted on and interconnecting said upper and lower fixture shoes in precise alignment for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other,

C. an access opening in one of said fixture shoes D. guide means mounted on and interconnecting said upper and lower fixture shoes in precise alignment for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other,

Ev a first series of predetermined locating apertures in said lower fixture shoe, and

F. a second series of predetermined locating apertures in said upper fixture shoe in precise alignment with said first series of fixture apertures. 

1. A fixture for use in machining and preliminary assembly of die support plates, strippers, and work support plate preparatory to subsequent final mounting into a complete die assembly comprising A. a lower fixture shoe B. a first access opening in said lower fixture shoe C. an upper fixture shoe D. a second access opening in said upper fixture shoe E. guide means mounted on and interconnecting said upper and lower fixture shoes in precise alignment for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other, F. a first series of predetermined locating apertures in said lower fixture shoe, and G. a second series of predetermined locating apertures in said upper fixture shoe in precise alignment with said first series of fixture apertures.
 2. A fixture for use in machining and preliminary assembly of die support plates, strippers, and work support plate preparatory to subsequent final mounting into a complete die assembly comprising A. a lower fixture shoe B. an upper fixture shoe C. an access opening in one of said fixture shoes D. guide means mounted on and interconnecting said upper and lower fixture shoes in precise alignment for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other, E. a first series of predetermined locating apertures in said lower fixture shoe, and F. a second series of predetermined locating apertures in said upper fixture shoe in precise alignment with said first series of fixture apertures. 